Demographic information gathering and incentive award system and method

ABSTRACT

A method of providing an incentive award to a user for visiting a participating web site includes registering a user with the information gathering system which maintains an award point account associated with the user and where award points are specific to the information gathering system, making award points available for purchase to a web site proprietor which operates the participating web site, awarding a predetermined amount of award points by the web site proprietor to the registered user for a visit conforming to a predefined rule to the participating web site, updating the award point account associated with the registered user, and exchanging award points associated with the registered user for a good or a service.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/080,946 filed May 19, 1998, titled “Demographic Information Gathering and Incentive Award System and Method,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to gathering demographic information and in particular to storing identification and request information in a networked environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Networked environments such as the Internet allow people using local network devices to request information from remote network devices. Typically the local network device is a personal computer (PC) executing client software (e.g., a web browser); the remote network device is a server executing server software; and the network is the Internet. The requested information could be a web page containing information related to a hyperlink. For example, a user (web site visitor) may request a web page about baseball, from a more general web page about sports, by selecting a picture of a baseball with a pointing device such as a mouse. Once the selection is made, the local device sends a message to the remote device via the network. The message typically includes the domain and the name (i.e., the address) of the requested information, as well as information uniquely identifying the local device. Often, several messages are exchanged between the client and the server, further specifying the identity and capabilities of the local device.

Frequently, the proprietor of a particular web site desires information about the people requesting information from his web site. This demographic information allows the proprietor to tailor the content of his web site to the preferences of its visitors. For example, if a particular page is visited frequently by a particular demographic group (e.g., teen males), then the web site proprietor could target that demographic group when selecting content such as advertising banners. Ordinarily, only limited demographic information such as browser version and the address of the local device are available for collection by the server. This limited demographic information is typically inadequate for most content tailoring, because it contains very little personal information about the visitor.

A common technique to overcome this drawback is to develop a profile for each visitor by requesting or requiring each visitor to fill out a questionnaire on their first visit. Profile information gathered from the questionnaire is then stored locally in a small file called a cookie on the visitors PC. Alternatively, the information is stored on the server and correlated to an identification number or password associated with the visitor. Regardless of the manner in which the profiles are stored, each time the visitor returns to the web site, his profile information is associated with the requests he makes, creating transaction information for subsequent analysis and content tailoring.

However, this technique suffers from certain drawbacks. Often, visitors are irritated by the inconvenience of multiple questionnaires from multiple web sites asking the same questions over and over. In fact, this may have the detrimental affect of averting visitors from such sites. Further, many visitors are unwilling to disclose personal information for fear it may compromise their privacy. Often, visitors prefer anonymous browsing in an effort to reduce Junk e-mail. Although many web sites guarantee anonymity, others do not. Investigating individual proprietors privacy policies while browsing can be burdensome. Still further, collection of demographic information by individual proprietors precludes analysis by that proprietor that goes beyond his particular web site. For example, a web site proprietor may want to know what percentage of visitors to any web site (not just his own) are teen males.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, an information gathering system for use with at least two web sites on the Internet is provided. The system comprises a profile server including a database containing information concerning participating web site visitors. The system further comprises first means associated with a first one of the at least two web sites for determining whether a web site visitor to the first web site is one of the participating visitors. Still further the system comprises second means associated with a second one of the at least two web sites for determining whether a web site visitor to the second web site is one of the participating visitors. Additionally, the system comprises means for developing demographics information from the database and from the first and second determining means concerning the visitors to the first and second web sites.

In some preferred embodiments, the system further comprises first means for awarding an incentive award to participating web site visitors to the first web site. In some such preferred embodiments the first awarding means awards the incentive award on a first identified visit. In other such preferred embodiments, the first awarding means awards a second incentive award for a subsequent visit if the subsequent visit occurs after a predetermined period of time. In some embodiments, the first awarding means refuses to award a second incentive award after the first incentive award. In certain embodiments, the size of the incentive award is defined by the first web site. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the first awarding means may award the incentive award in response to a task. In such an instance, the task may be responding to a question.

In some preferred embodiments, the system further comprises second means for awarding an incentive award to participating web site visitors to the second web site. In some preferred embodiments, the first and/or second determining means is located proximate to a server associated with the first and/or second web site. In some such preferred embodiments, the first and/or second determining means is located proximate to the profile server.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention a demographic information gathering system for use in a networked environment having first and second networked devices is provided. The system comprises a database server for storing profile information and for retrieving identification information associated with a participant. The system further comprises a third networked device and means responsive to a signal from the third networked device for determining whether the third networked device is the participant by retrieving the identification information from the database server and for identifying an intended network device by determining whether the signal was a request for information from the first networked device or a request for information from the second networked device. Still further, the system comprises means responsive to the determining means for associating the identification information with the intended network device, wherein the association is subsequently stored by the database server. Additionally, the system comprises means for sending a second signal to the third networked device identifying a redirected network location.

In some preferred embodiments, the redirected network location comprises an address of the intended network device. In some preferred embodiments, the system further comprises means for identifying a profile specific network location. In some such preferred embodiments, the redirected network location comprises the profile specific network location. In some preferred embodiments, the system further comprises means for adjusting incentive points associated with the participant. In some such preferred embodiments, the networked environment comprises the Internet. In other such preferred embodiments, the database server comprises a third networked computing device. In some embodiments, the database server comprises a third networked computing device for storing the demographic information and a fourth networked computing device for retrieving identification information associated with a participant. In certain embodiments, the first networked device comprises a personal computer. In any of the foregoing embodiments, the determining means, associating means, and/or adjusting means comprise software instructions operating in a microprocessor.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for monitoring network usage related to first and second domains is provided. The system comprises a database server for storing transaction and identification information. The system further comprises means for receiving a request for information related to a domain and for receiving identification information associated with a user. Still further, the system comprises means for determining whether the requested information is related to the first or second domain. Additionally, the system comprises means for determining whether the user is identified in the database and means for modifying the transaction information based on the request and the identification information.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring network usage in first and second domains is provided. The method comprises the step of receiving a request for information related to a domain. The method further comprises the step of determining whether the requested information is related to the first or second domain. Still further, the method comprises the step of receiving identification information associated with a first user. Additionally, the method comprises the steps of determining whether the user is identified in a predefined database and associating the request for information with the identification information.

In some preferred embodiments, the system further comprises the step of transmitting a representation of the requested information. In such an instance, the representation may comprise a web page or web page address. In some such preferred embodiments, the system further comprises the step of adjusting incentive points. In other such preferred embodiments, the step of receiving the request for information comprises receiving a transport protocol message. In some embodiments, the requested information comprises web page information. In certain embodiments, the request comprises a web page address.

In some preferred embodiments, the identification information comprises a network address, an identification number, and/or a user name. In some such preferred embodiments, the system further comprises the step of determining whether the user is associated with a predefined profile type. In other such preferred embodiments, the system further comprises the step of transmitting an e-mail message to the user. In such an instance, transmitting comprises composing and/or selecting the e-mail message based on a predefined profile associated with the user and/or based on the request.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a method comprises the step of receiving a request for information stored on a first remote device from a second remote device. The method further comprises the step of receiving an identifier associated with the second remote device from the second remote device. Still further, the method comprises the step of determining if the identifier is a member of a predefined set of identifiers. Additionally, the method comprises the step of storing a representation of the request relationally with the identifier. The method further comprises the step of transmitting an instruction to the second remote device, wherein the instruction directs the second remote device to request the information from a third remote device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a detailed consideration of the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network capable of utilizing the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a web site, suitable for use as the web site depicted in FIG. 1, along with the data fires it serves;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a client, suitable for use as the client depicted in FIG. 1, along with a constructed web page;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a profile server, suitable for use as the profile server depicted in FIG. 1, along with a profile database;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a transaction server, suitable for use as the transaction server depicted in FIG. 1, along with a transaction database;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program that can be implemented by the transaction server 18 to monitor network usage; and,

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an apparatus, suitable for use as the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although the following description focuses on the Internet connecting personal computers to servers, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the techniques of the present invention are in no way limited to the Internet, personal computers, or servers. On the contrary, any system which might benefit from tracking usage, relating that usage to user profiles, and/or from motivating users to use the system in predetermined ways may employ the techniques shown herein.

Generally, a system employing the present invention provides web site proprietors with demographics information about the users who visit their web sites, and provides web site visitors with incentive awards (i.e. points) in exchange for providing the demographics information and visiting the web sites. Anyone who uses the Internet can be a participating web site visitor. To participate, a user must visit a registration web site and complete a questionnaire. The questionnaire is designed to solicit various demographics data of interest to web site proprietors. For example, a profile may include a participating user's age, income, occupation, etc. Once the questionnaire is completed, a profile server 16 sets up an account for the newly subscribing user and saves the users demographic profile to a database 40 (see FIG. 4). Significantly, the user need only register once. Optionally, the participant may thereafter earn additional points by completing supplementary questionnaires. These new questionnaires expand the user's profile with new information or update the user's profile when information becomes outdated.

The profile information is then associated with identification information unique to the participant and stored in memory. The profiles (i.e., profile information with identification information) are preferably stored in a database 40 on a profile server 16 (see FIG. 4). However, each profile could be stored on the associated user's local device or in some other manner. In any event, the identification information is stored on the user's local device, typically as a cookie, to identify the user on subsequent visits to participating sites. Preferably, the identification information comprises a unique alphanumeric string (e.g., a serial number).

After registering, a user can enjoy the benefits of the system by visiting the web sites of one or more participating web site proprietors. Preferably, the web sites of participating proprietors will include a message identifying the site as one included in the program. For example, a logo indicating the number of points that may be earned could be displayed on an ad banner. The system automatically awards points to deserving users without requiring the users to manually leave the web site awarding the points. In this sense, the system is distributed. It works behind the scenes of numerous, typically unrelated web sites to monitor network usage and award points to visiting registered users.

Periodically, the system develops a report for each participating web site proprietor providing a demographics profile of the participating users that visited the site. The report is developed from the information gathered at the site in question and the system's database 40 of demographic profiles for participating users.

If they wish, each individual site proprietor can customize their site to request participating visitors to perform certain tasks such as answering questions or visiting certain pages. By performing the requested tasks, the participating user will be awarded points that can be redeemed for products or services at a later date. However, specific tasks need not be required in this manner. Instead, merely visiting a participating web site is preferably sufficient to obtain award points.

In addition to the registration site, the system provides redemption sites which participating users can visit to convert the points accumulated by visiting sites into products or services. The system automatically accepts redemption orders, places purchase orders with vendors for the requested product or service, and, where applicable, directs the vendor in question to deliver the redeemed products to the redeeming user. The points are automatically deducted from the participant's account, preferably located on a profile server.

A significant feature of the system is its ability to permit web site proprietors to create their own business rules governing the distribution of points. For example, a web site proprietor can select any number of points to be given visiting users; can specify activities or questions that must be completed by the visitor before points are awarded; and/or can limit the frequency at which users can be awarded points for visiting the site (e.g., once a year, once a month, etc.). As a further example, a web-site owner can provide two questionnaires to visitors and award more points to visitors that answer the more extensive questionnaire than to visitors that choose to answer the more limited questionnaire. The points a web site awards are preferably purchased from a central provider at a premium over their redemption value.

An apparatus 8 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention is shown in FIG. 1 in a preferred embodiment. A communication channel 10 is shared by the apparatus 8, a plurality of clients 12, and web site servers 14. A client 12 is a consumer of information (e.g., a web site visitor) and a web site server 14 is a provider of information. Although a client could take on many forms, such as a telephone pager, kiosk, teller machine, reservation system, etc., in the typical case for the Internet, the client 12 is implemented as a personal computer.

Clients 12 request pages of information from the web sites 14 by transmitting a request message to an address where desired information is located. Typically this is accomplished by selecting a hyperlink that points to the desired page. Hyperlinks are usually pictures or highlighted words. A user may select the hyperlink in a variety of known ways. For example, the user could click on the hyperlink with a mouse or other pointing device. The user may or may not be a participating user (i.e. profile information may or may not be stored in the apparatus 8 for this user). The address specifies the name of the desired page and the domain in which it is located. For example, “www.xyz.com/sports” specifies the sports page in the www.xyz.com domain. In the typical instance, the web site 14 receives the request and responds with a markup file 20. The markup file 20 specifies the layout of the requested page and any content files 22 needed to construct the page (see FIG. 2). Subsequently, the client 12 receives the markup file 20 and makes further requests for the content files 22. As the files are received, the constructed page 30 is displayed on the client 12 (see FIG. 3).

Typically, hyperlinks point to a page associated with the link. For example, a picture of a baseball might lead to a web page about baseball. However, in the preferred embodiment, participating web sites may include hyperlinks that appear to point to an associated page, but actually point to a transaction server 18 resident in the apparatus 8 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 5). Preferably, included in the hyperlink information is an award id 24. The combination of the award id 24 and the address of the hyperlink is unique within the domain of this web page. Further, all domain names are unique, therefore, the combination of domain name, address, and award id 24 is unique across the entire network and may be used to determine the ultimate destination of a hyperlink.

When a user selects a hyperlink that points to the transaction server 18, messages are transmitted to the transaction server 18. These messages may include the award id 24 associated with that hyperlink, user identification information, and the intended destination of the hyperlink. For the purpose of properly processing received messages, the apparatus 8 is provided with means to determining whether the user associated with a received message is a registered user. Preferably, the determining means makes this determination by retrieving the identification information stored on the user's local device (e.g., the cookie) and checking it against a local list of registered participants. Instead of a local list, the transaction server 18 could query the profile server 16 to access data stored on that server. Optionally, the transaction server 18 and the profile server 16 could be implemented as the same device. In an alternate embodiment means associated with the participating web sites determine whether a web site visitor is one of the participating visitors. For example, software instructions operating in a microprocessor could query the registration server to determine if a web site visitor is a participating visitor. Alternatively, the participating web site could search a local list of participating visitors.

If the transaction server 18 determines that the user is not a participant, then it translates the award id 24 into an address that does point to an associated page (e.g., picture of baseball to a baseball page). This translation could be performed with a look-up table or by parsing the transmitted messages. Subsequently, the transaction server 18 preferably sends a message to the client 12 redirecting it to the associated page. The client 12 then requests the associated page from the appropriate web site 14. Alternatively, the non-participating user could be redirected to a registration page or temporarily shown a page about how points could have been earned if he were registered, and then subsequently redirected to the associated page.

If the transaction server 18 determines that the user is a participant, it records data associated with the transaction in a transaction database 50 (see FIG. 5). For example, the transaction database 50 may include the participant's identification information, the award id, the address of the desired web page, and the time of the request. Alternatively, the data associated with the transaction could be store by the profile server 16.

Optionally, the transaction sewer 18 includes means for awarding incentive points to participating web site visitors. Although a person with ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the awarding means can be implemented in many ways with out departing from the scope of the invention, in the preferred embodiment the awarding means is implemented by software instructions operating in a microprocessor resident in apparatus 8.

Preferably, certain conditions must be met before points are awarded. These business rules are preferably unique to a participating web site and are preferably defined by that web site's proprietor. The business rules are preferably stored on the transaction server 18 and indexed by the award id. However, the business rules could optionally be stored on another server and retrieved. To determine if the participant identified by the identification information is eligible for the award identified by the award id, the awarding means tests the rules against circumstances specific to the participant. For example, the awarding means may award points because it determines that this visit is a first visit by this participant. Similarly, the awarding means may award points because it determines that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since this participant's last visit. The size of the award (i.e. number of points awarded) could vary from visit to visit and is preferably determined by the web site(s). Further, the awarding means may refuse to award points because it determines that this visit is not the first visit by this participant. Similarly, the awarding means may refuse to award points because it determines that a predetermined amount of time has not elapsed since this participant's last visit. Optionally, the participant may earn points by completing certain tasks. For example, the participant may be asked to respond to a question or series of questions in exchange for a predetermined number of points.

Each web site could have a local business rule determining means or web sites could share one or more centralized determining means. For example, the determining means may be located proximate to a server associated with a web site. Alternatively, the determining means may be located proximate to the registration server. Further, the circumstances specific to each participant may be stored at the transaction server 18, on each participant's client, and/or on the profile server 16. In the event that information stored on a remote device is required to resolve a business rule, the determining means could query the appropriate device.

Preferably, if points are awarded the transaction is recorded, the participant's account is updated, and the award id 24 is translated into an address that points to an associated page. As in the non-participant case, the transaction server 18 preferably sends a message to the client 12 redirecting it to the associated page, and, the client 12 requests the associated page from the appropriate web site 14. Alternatively, the participating user could optionally be temporarily shown a page about how many points he earned, then redirected to the associated page; or, the participating user could optionally be redirected to a page based on his profile information. For example, a participant requesting information about local restaurants could be redirected to a page that is local to him based on his address.

The apparatus 8 is preferably provided with means for developing demographic information concerning visitors to web sites 14. This developing means can be implemented as means for associating the demographic information of a participating user with a visited web site 14. The developing means or the associating means may include software instructions operating in a microprocessor that correlate the web page visited and visitor identification information with information in the profile database. For example, the percentage of males visiting a particular web page or web pages could be calculated be looking up each participating visitor in the profile database, checking a field in the database for sex, and tabulating the results.

If, due to the controlling business rules of the visited site 14, no points are awarded, the transaction may be still recorded, but the participant's account is not updated. As before, the award id 24 is translated into an address that points to an associated page. Preferably, the transaction server 18 sends a message to the client 12 redirecting it to the associated page, and, the client 12 requests the associated page from the appropriate web site 14; or, the participating user could optionally be redirected to a page based on his profile information. Alternatively, the participating user could be temporarily shown a page informing him that no points were awarded, then redirected to the associated page.

A flowchart of a program that can be implemented by the transaction server 18 to monitor network usage in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6. The programmed steps are typically performed by a control circuit such as a microprocessor as is conventional. Once the program is initiated the control circuit waits until it receives a message, such as a request for information from a particular network address (block 60). Preferably the request is a transport protocol message such as a hypertext transport protocol message. Typically, the information (e.g., a particular web page) is related to a particular domain in the network (e.g., a particular web site).

As mentioned above, requests for information to the apparatus 8 preferably include identification information associated with a user (block 62). The identification information may be any identifier such as a network address, an identification number, and/or a user name. Subsequently, the control circuit determines whether the user is identified in a predefined set or database of registered users (block 64). This database could be located proximate to the transaction server 18 or in a remote location. Further, the database could be queried over the communication channel 10 or over some other communication means such as a dedicated connection. In the event that the control circuit determines that the identification information is not associated with a registered user, it optionally transmits information to display a message informing the user about how points could have been earned if he were a registered participant (block 66). Subsequently, the control circuit transmits additional information to the client 12 from which the identification information originated (block 78). This additional information preferably includes a message redirecting a browse on the client 12 to request the desired information from the appropriate location; or, the participating user could optionally be redirected to a page based on his profile information.

In the event that the control circuit determines that the identification information is associated with a registered user (block 64), it may determine what domain the requested information is related to (block 68). Typically, the domain name is included in the hyperlink and in the message requesting the information. For example, a request for a desired web page includes the address of the web page, which includes the domain.

Further, the control circuit may determine whether the user is associated with a predefined profile type. For example, the control circuit may be programmed to determine if the user is male. This determination can then be used in a variety of ways. For example, it could be stored in the transaction database 50, included in a report, used to determine the number of incentive points to award, or used to determine what messages to transmit. To determine if a user matches a predetermined profile type the control circuit could query the profile database 40 using the received identification information and compare the results of the query with the predetermined profile type. Alternatively, any other database containing the appropriate information could be used (e.g., a subset of the profile database located on the transaction server 18).

Subsequently, the control circuit associates the request for information with the identification information and preferably stores the associated data in a database 50 on the transaction server 18 at a block 70 (see FIG. 5). However, the database may be stored on the profile server 16, on a client 12, on several clients 12, or on some other device. Further, the database could be queried over the communication channel 10 or over some other communication means such as a dedicated connection. Optionally, the control circuit awards or adjusts incentive points (block 72). The number of incentive points awarded is preferably based on business rules established by the web site proprietor. The business rules are preferably stored on the transaction server 18. However, the business rules may be stored on the profile server 16, on a client 12, on several clients 12, or on some other device. The business miles compare the current transaction to relevant parameters such as time since last visit and profile information to determine the number of points to be awarded.

Further, the control circuit may transmit other messages, such as an e-mail message (block 74). The e-mail message could be composed based on the predefined profile associated with the user. For example, if a registered user requests information related to a new car purchase, a dealer in the user's area could be determined by the user's location information, and a personalized invitation for a test drive could be sent to the user on behalf of the dealer if the user is over a certain age and income level. Still further, the control circuit may transmit other messages, such as information to display a message informing the user about how many points were awarded or that no points were awarded and why no points were awarded (block 76). For example, on a first visit a participating user may be informed that he earned 500 points, but on a subsequent visit on the same day the participating user may be informed that no points were awarded and that he should return in 24 hours.

In response to receiving the request for information, the control circuit transmits a representation of the requested information (block 78). For example, the representation may be a web page, or the network address of a web page instructing the client 12 to request the information from a particular web site 14 (e.g., a redirection message). As a result the desired information is typically displayed on the client 12.

A block diagram of a device suitable for use as the apparatus 8 is illustrated in FIG. 7. The device comprises a set of coupled circuits, such as software instructions operating in a microprocessor. Messages requesting information arrive over the communication channel 10. Means for receiving, such as a receiver circuit 80, capture the message for processing in a known manner. The domain of origin and/or the domain of the desired information is determined by means for determining, such as a domain classifier circuit 82. Preferably, the domain classifier 82 parses the message to determine the domain of origin and/or the domain of the desired information. Similarly, means for determining whether the user is identified in a database, such as an identifier circuit 84, examines the message for identification information. Preferably, the identification information is a cookie retrieved from the client 12. Portions of the message, including the domain and identification information are preferably stored by means for modifying. For example, a transaction logger 86 may send instructions to the transaction server 18 for such purposes. Similarly, means for storing and adjusting incentive points, such as a point awarder circuit 88, modify point information on the profile server 16. Means for transferring information between the transaction server 18 and the profile server 16 allow information destined for one to be stored on the other and then updated. For example, the transaction information is preferably transferred to the profile server periodically. Means for transferring preferably include a transceiver on each of the devices and a network connection.

In summary, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that a demographic information gathering system and method have been provided. Users of systems implementing the teachings of the present invention can enjoy network browsing with increased privacy, unfettered by redundant questionnaires. Further, these users may be rewarded for their activity. Proprietors of such systems can benefit from the collection of demographic information across domains as well as increased traffic.

The foregoing description has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto. 

1. A method of providing an incentive award to a user for visiting a participating web site, the method comprising: registering a user with the information gathering system, wherein the information gathering system maintains an award point account associated with the user and wherein award points are specific to the information gathering system; making award points available for purchase to a web site proprietor, wherein the web site proprietor operates the participating web site; awarding a predetermined amount of award points by the web site proprietor to the registered user for a visit to the participating web site, wherein the visit conforms to a predefined rule; updating the award point account associated with the registered user; exchanging award points associated with the registered user for a good or a service. 